Connector



A. J. HIXON May 23, 1939.

CONNECTOR Filed March 25 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A. J. HIXON May 23, 1939.

CONNECTOR Filed March 25. 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I raven/Z0 a": flared JIiiLo n, 3941 644 7M4 1pm., W fla s Patented May 23, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 14 Claims.

This application is a continuation in part of applicants co-pending application Serial Number 4,513, flied February 1. 1935.

My invention, which relates to connectors, particularly but not exclusively for cables and similar conductors, will be best understood from the following description when read in the light oi the accompanying drawings of an embodiment of the invention the scope of which will be more particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a connector, or socalled mechanical lug", constructed according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan of the connector according to Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively left and right hand elevations oi. the connector according to Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. i;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a section corresponding to Fig. 6 with the parts moved into a diilerent operative position;

Figs. 8 and 9 are sections on the lines 3-3 and 9-3 respectively of Fig. 6;

Figs. 10 and 11 are sections on the lines Ill-I3 and IIlI respectively of Fig. 7;

Fig. 12 is an end elevation oi the base member 01 the connector as viewed from the right in Figs. 1 and 6 before the member is assembled with the other parts of the device;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the cable grip- D Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the left hand member of the connector shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6;

Fig. 15 is a section on the line I5l5 of Fig. 1; and

Figs. 16, 17 and 18 are diagrams illustrating the construction and operation of the device according to Figs. 1 to 15.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings comprises a pair of relatively rotatable members I and 3, the member I being formed with a sleeve 5 which forms an interior bearing for the cylindrical exterior surface I of the member 3. As shown, the member 3 at one end is formed with a nut 3 of reduced diameter as compared to the bearing surface 1 of'said member so as to provide .an annular shoulder III. After the parts are assembled the end of the sleeve is bent over the shoulder III to provide a flange I I which holds the members I and 3 in assembled relation.

As illustrated, the member I is formed with a base portion l3 which is perforated, as shown at I5, for use in connecting the connector to a bus-bar or terminal. When so connected the members I and 3 may be relatively rotated by a wrench applied to the nut 3.

At the bottom portion of the socket formed by the sleeve 5 of the member I is a surface H with which the end of the member 3 abuts so that this surface, in conjunction with the flange II. restrains the members I and 3 against axial separation under axially directed forces.

As illustrated, the member 3 is provided with a cylindrical recess l3 eccentric to the axis of relative rotation of the members I and 3. In this recess is rotatabiy mounted a ring-like eccentric part or cable gripper II which, as shown. is formed with a perforation 23 adapted to align with the openings 23 and 21 formed axially oi the members I and 3 respectively.

The ring-like eccentric member 2| illustrated is formed with 9. lug 23 which projects from the radially widest portion of one face of said member toward the member I and is received in a slot 3| formed in the latter. The parts are so formed that the opposite side walls 33 and 35 of the lug cooperate with the opposite side walls '31 and 33 respectively of the slot to cause the eccentric member to rotate relative to its eccentric bearing III on the member 3 when that member and the member I are relatively rotated. This rotation of the eccentric cable gripper relative to the member 3 is effective to move the cable gripper transversely of the axis oi. relative rotation oi the members I and 3 to cause the bore 2| of the cable gripper to move out of alignment with the bores 25 and 21 so as to grip a cable K inserted in said bores. Fig. 6 shows the three bores in alignment, while Fig. '1 shows the positions of the parts when the members I and 3 have been rotated relative to each other through 180 from their relative positions shown by Fig. 6. when the parts are in their relative positions shown by Fig. '7 the conductor, which was inserted in the aligned bores when the parts were in their relative positions shown by Fig. 6, will be firmly gripped to the connector.

As shown, the eccentric cable gripper 2| is wedge-shaped and has a loose fit in its bearings permitting it slightly to tilt when the cable is gripped. This tilting is eil'ective to cause the end edge I (Fig. 7) of the lug to bite into the cable and thus more firmly secure it to the connector. This tilting is caused by the reaction or the walls oi the slot against the lug. the latter being offset laterally of that portion of the gripper which rotates on the member 3, it being understood that the rotatlve force in effect is applied to the gripper by the member I pushing against the lug. It has been found that having the hearing surfaces of the eccentric on the member 3 in the same transverse plane as the bearing surfaces of the sleeve 5 on the member 3 assists in preventing jamming of the parts, which would otherwise occur if they were not in the same transverse plane.

Preferably the lug 29 and the slot II are so formed that in all positions of the parts the opposite sides of the lug are in contact with the opposite walls of the slot. This is effective to prevent loosening of the cable by twisting it after it is pp d by the connector. It will be observed, that if there were a clearance between the side walls of the lug and the side walls of the slot, twisting of the cable would be effective without relative rotation of the parts I and 3 to move the eccentric through the distance afforded by this clearance and to that extent release the cable, which might permit it to be entirely loosened in cases where the cable is of almost the same diameter as the cable receiving bores. Further, the construction preferably is such that the wall 39 of the slot is reentrant with respect to the edge 43 formed by the intersection of said wall with the bore 25 of the member I. It has been found that this aids in preventing Jamming of the parts when they are moved to loosen the cable, permitting the lug freely to slide over said edge in its motion which moves it out of the bore 25 into the slot.

Although it has been found that the device may be constructed and proportioned otherwise, preferably it is constructed and proportioned as indicated in the diagram shown by Fig. 16 which represents the parts when they are in their positions shown by Figs. 6, 8 and 9, while Fig. 18 represents them when they are in their positions shown by Figs. 7, 10 and 11, Fig. 17 indicating a position intermediate those positions.

Referring to Fig. 16, the circle 23, 25. 21 represents the aligned bores 23, 26 and 21 which have a diameter D. The axis of relative rotation of the members I and 3 is represented by the center point C. The axis of rotation of the eccentric cable gripper relative to the member 3 is represented by the point X which is on a circle of radius E, E being the eccentricity of the axis of the cable gripper relative to the axis of relative rotation of the members I and 3. A radius E is selected that will cause the eccentric cable gripper to move transversely of the axis of rela-- tive rotation of the members I and 3 the desired amount. For example, if the lug 29 is to be capable of moving into the bore 25 sufliciently approximately to half close it when the members I and 3 are relatively rotated through 180 from their positions indicated by Figs. 6, 8 and 9 to their positions indicated by Figs. '1, 10 and 11, the diameter of the eccentric circle will be half the diameter of the bores 23, 25 and 21.

Further, referring to Fig. 16, best results will be secured if the side 33 of the lug 23 contacts with the side 31 of the slot 3| at a point F which is on the same straight line as the centers C and X which means that when the parts I and 3 are relatively rotated from their positions shown by Fig. 16, represented by rotating the point X clockwise, the motion of the lug will be immediately inward toward the center C without it first moving away from said center, as would happen if the points C, X and F were not on the same straight line. Still further, it has been found that under these conditions substantial contact of the lug with both side walls of the slot in all relative positions of the parts will be satisfactorily secured if the point F is a distance E from the center C and the side 31 of the slot is tangent to the circle 23, 25, 21, and the other side 39 of the slot is parallel to the side 31 and tangent to the eccentric circle, and the lug is so constructed that the point H on the lug is a distance All from the line C X F.

When the members I and 3 have been rotated through indicated by moving the axis of the eccentric clockwise about the eccentric circle from the point X of Fig. 16 to the point X of Fig. 17, the lug will have moved relative to the center point C to the position of the lug indicated by Fig. 1'1, in which figure the circle 23 represents the bore 23 of the eccentric cable gripper, this bore in the positions of parts indicated by Fig. 16 having coincided with the circle 23, 25, 21. It will be observed from comparing Figs. 16 and 1'1 that the center Y, representing the axis of the bore 23 in the eccentric cable gripper, which axis coincided with the point C in Fig. 16, is rotated somewhat more than 90 as the result of the first 90 of relative rotation of the members I and 3, indicating a. slight positive rotation of the eccentric cable gripper.

When the rotation is continued to bring the parts into the positions indicated by Fig. 18 it will be observed that the center C, representing the axis of relative rotation of the members I and 3, is on the circle 23 representing the bore in the eccentric cable gripper, indicating that the bores 25 and 21 in the members I and 3 respec tively have been approximately half closed by the transverse motion of the eccentric cable gripper. It will be observed from a comparison of Figs. 1'1 and 18 that the point Y is moved through less than 90 by moving the parts from their positions indicated by Fig. 17 to their positions indicated by Fig. 18, indicating that during the final 90 of relative rotation of the members I and 3 the eccentric cable gripper rotates positively relative to the member 3 in a contrary direction to the relative rotation of the member 3 to the member I.

It will be noted from the above description that in all positions of the parts the lug 29 contacts with the opposite side walls of the slot 3 I. Mathematically, to secure this result, the side wall 31 of the slot should be slightly concave, but as a practical matter in a connector of size to grip cables found in practice this concavity would amount to but several hundredths of an inch, and therefore in practice this side may be a plane surface.

Preferably the members I and 3 are provided with interengaging stop means to determine the extremes of relative movement of those parts. This means in the submitted embodiment of the invention consists of an arcuate groove 45 formed in the surface I1 of the member I, and a projecting lug 41 formed on the adjacent face of the member 3, the lug 41 being received in said groove so that the opposite end surfaces .43 of the groove cooperate with the lug to afford stops.

If desired, means may be provided to lock the members I and 3 against relative rotation after the cable is gripped. Herein, for this purpose, I have provided the shoulder portion III of the member 3 with a plurality of notches 5|. After the cable is gripped the portions of the flange II 7 of the member I may be deformed or bent with a suitable blunt-edged tool to force it into one or more of said recesses, as indicated at 83 in Fig. 15, which will securely lock the partsagainst relative rotation.

It will be understood that within the scope of the appended claims wide deviations may be made from the form of the invention illustrated and described without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described havin in combination, a pair of relatively rotatable members, at least one of which is formed with an opening to receive a cable or the like, a cable gripper formed with a perforation for receiving the cable, said gripper having a cylindrical surface operatively mounted on a cylindrical surface an one of said members for rotation eccentrically of the axis of relative rotation of said members; and means operatively connecting said gripper to the other of said members for causing, when said members are relatively rotated, eccentric rotation of said gripper relative to said member on which it is operatively mounted, said means comprising intermeshing parts so formed as to allow for movement of said gripper transversely of said axis of relative rotation while preventing substantial rotation between said gripper and members when the latter are rotatably stationary relative to each other.

2. A device of the character described having, in combination, a pair of relatively rotatable members, at least one of which is formed with an opening to receive a cable or the like, a cable gripper formed with a perforation for receiving the cable, said gripper having a cylindrical surface operatively mounted on a cylindrical surface on one of said members for rotation eccentrically of the axis of relative rotation of said members;

and means operatively connecting said gripper to the other of said members for causing, when said members are relatively rotated, eccentric rotation of said gripper relative to said member on which it is operatively mounted, said means comprising a pair of spaced abutment surfaces operatively formed on and rotative with said gripper and a cooperating pair of spaced abutment surfaces operatively formed on and rotative with said member to which said gripper is operatively connected, said surfaces being so disposed and shaped as to cause movement of said gripper transversely of said axis of relative rotation while preventing substantial rotative lost motion between said gripper and members.

3. A device of the character described having, in combination, a pair of relatively rotatable members, at least one of which is formed with an opening to receive a cable or the like, a cable gripper formed with a perforation for receiving the cable, said gripper having a cylindrical surface operatively mounted on a cylindrical surface formiil on one of said members for rotation eccentrica y'of the axis of relative rotation of said members; said gripper and the other of said members being formed one with lug means and the other with surfaces cooperating with said lug means for causing, when said members are relatively rotated, eccentric rotation of said gripper relative to the member on which it is operatively mounted while preventing substantial when the latter arerotatably stationary relative to each other.

4. A device'of the character described having.

rotation between said gripper and members in combination. a pair oi relatively rotatable members. at least one of which is formed with an opening to receive a cable or the like, a cable gripper formed with a perforation for receiving the cable, said gripper having a cylindrical surface operatively mounted on a cylindrical surface formed on one of said members for rotation eccentrically of the axis of relative rotation of said members; said gripper and the other of said members being formed one with a lug and the other with a slot receiving said lug for causing, when said members are relatively rotated, eccentric rotation of said gripper relative to the member on which it is operatively mounted, said lug and slot being so formed as to present cooperating portions preventing substantial rotation between said gripper and members when the latter are rotatably stationary relative to each other.

5. A device of the character described having, in combination, a pair of relatively rotatable members, at least one of which is formed with an opening to receive a cable or the like, a cable gripper formed with a perforation for receiving the cable, said gripper having a cylindrical surface operatlvely mounted on a cylindrical surface formed on one of said members for rotation eccentrically of the axis of relative rotation of said members; said gripper and the other of said members being formed one with a lug and the other with a slot receiving said lug for causing, when said members are relatively rotated, eccentrlc rotation of said gripper relative to the member on which it is operatively mounted, said lug and slot being so formed that substantially in all rotative positions of said gripper opposite sides of said lug substantially contact with opposite sides of said slot.

6. A device of the character described having, in combination, a pair of relatively rotatable members operatively restrained against axial separation under axially directed forces, at least one of which members is formed with an opening to receive a cable or the like, a cable gripper formed with a portion having a perforation for receiving the cable, the walls of which perforation are adapted to contact the cable, said gripper being operatively mounted on one of said members for rotation eccentrically of the axis of relative rotation of said members and for tilting relative to said members and axis, and cooperating abutment means operatively carried by the other of said members and said gripper at one side of the perforated portion of said gripper axially thereof for causing the eccentric rotation of said gripper when said members are relatively rotated.

'l. A device of the character described having, in combination, a pair of relatively rotatable members operatively restrained against axial separatlon under axially directed forces, at least one of which members is formed with an opening to receive a cable or the like, a cable gripper formed with a portion having a perforation for receiving the cable, the walls of which perforation are adapted to contact the cable, said gripper being operatively mounted on one of said members for rotation eccentrically oi the axis of relative rotation of said members and for tilting relative to said members and axis, and said gripper having a cable-contacting portion which is oifset axially of said gripper relative to the portion thereof mounted on said member and is received in a slot formed in the other of said members, which offset-portion is adapted to contact a wall of said slot for causing the eccentric rotation and tilting of said gripper when said members are relatively rotated to grip a cable.

8. A device of the character described having, in combination, a pair of relatively rotatable members operatively restrained against axial separation under axially directed forces, at least one of which members is formed with an opening to receive a cable or the like, a cable gripper formed with a portion having a perforation for receiving the cable, the walls of which perforation are adapted to contact the cable, said gripper being operatively mounted on one of said members for rotation eccentrically of the axis of relative rotation of said members and for tilting relative to said members and axis, and said gripper having a cable-contacting portion which is offset axially of said gripper relative to the portion thereof mounted on said member and is received in a slot formed in the other of said members, which offset portion is adapted to contact a wall of said slot for causing the eccentric rotation and tilting of said gripper when said members are relatively rotated to grip a cable, said offset portion and slot being so formed as to prevent substantial eccentric rotation of said gripper when said members are rotatably stationary relative to each other.

9. A device of the character described having, in combination, a pair of relatively rotatable members operatively restrained against axial separation unqer axially directed forces and formed with aligned openings for receiving a cable or the like, a ring-like cable gripper having a cylindrical exterior rotatably received in a cylindrical recess in one of said members, the axis of which recess is eccentric to the axis of relative rotation of said members, said gripper being formed with an opening eccentric to the axis of the cylindrical exterior thereof for receiving a portion of the cable received by said openings of said members and having a longitudinally extending lug adapted to contact with the cable, the other of said members being formed with a longitudinally extending slot receiving said lug for causing said gripper to move transversely of said members when they are relatively rotated, said lug and slot being so formed that the opposite walls thereof are substantially in contact in all positions of said gripper.

10. A device of the character described having, in combination, a pair of relatively rotatable members operatively restrained against axial separation under axially directed forces and formed with aligned openings for receiving a cable or the like, a ring-like cable gripper having a cylindrical exterior rotatably and tiltably received in a cylindrical recess in one of said members, the axis of which recess is eccentric to the axis of relative rotation of said members, said gripper being formed with an opening eccentric to the axis of the cylindrical exterior thereof for receiving a portion of the cable received by said openings of said members and having a longitudinally extending lug adapted to contact with the cable, the other of said members being formed with a longitudinally extending slot communicating with the. opening thereof and receiving said lug, said lug being adapted to contact a wall of said slot for causing said gripper to move transversely of said members when they are relatively rotated and said lug to enter said opening with which said slot communicates.

11. A device of the character described having, in combination, a. pair of relatively rotatable members operatively restrained against axial separatlon under axially directed forces and formed with aligned openings for receiving a cable or the like, a ring-like cable gripper having a cylindrical exterior rotatably and tiltably received in a cylindrical recess in one of said members, the axis of which recess is eccentric to the axis of relative rotation of said members, said gripper being formed with an opening eccentric to the axis of the cylindrical exterior thereof for receiving a portion of the cable received by said openings of said members and having a longitudinally extending lug adapted to contact with the cable, the other of said members being formed with a longitudinally extending slot communicating with the opening thereof and receiving said lug, said lug being adapted to contact a. wall of said slot for causing said gripper to move transversely of said members when they are relatively rotated and said lug to enter said opening with which said slot communicates, said lug and slot being so formed as to prevent substantial rotation of said gripper relative to said members when said members are rotatably stationary relative to each other.

12. A device of the character described having, in combination, a pair of members one of which is mounted on the other for relative rotation, means restraining said members against axial separation under axially directed forces, said members being formed with aligned openings for receiving a cable or the like, a ring-like wedgeshaped cable gripper having a cylindrical exterior rotatably and. tiltably received in a cylindrical recess in one of said members, the axis of which recess is eccentric to the axis of relative rotation of said members, said gripper being formed with an opening eccentric to the axis of the cylindrical exterior thereof for receiving a portion of the cable received by said openings of said members and having a longitudinally extending lug projecting from one of its end faces at the thicker portion thereof, which lug is adapted to contact with the cable, the other of said members being' formed with a longitudinally extending slot communicating with the opening thereof and receiving said lug, said lug being adapted to contact a wall of said slot for causing said gripper to move transversely of said members when they are relatively rotated and said lug to enter said opening with which said slot communicates, said lug and slot being so formed that the opposite walls thereof are substantially in contact in all positions of said gripper.

13. In a device of the character described, a pair of generally aligned members, a ring-like cable gripper, said gripper and at least one of said members being formed with openings to receive a cable or the like, said members being formed with cooperating cylindrical bearing surfaces for mounting one member on the other for relative rotation, a cylindrical recess in one of said members surrounded by said bearing surfaces but formed eccentrically therewith, the cylindrical walls of which recess form a bearing for said gripper whereby the latter is mounted for rotation relative to said member in which said recess is formed, said gripper and the other of said members being formed with cooperating interengaging abutment means so formed as to enforce rotation of said gripper relative to said member having said recess when said members are relatively rotated.

14. In a device of the character described, a pair of generally aligned members, a ring-like cable gripper, said gripper and at least one of said members being formed with openings to receive 'a. cable or the like, said members being formed with cooperating cylindrical bearing surfaces for mounting one member on the other for relative rotation, a cylindrical recess in one of said members surrounded by said bearing surfaces but formed eccentrically therewith, the cylindrical walls of which recess form a bearing for said gripper whereby the latter is mounted for rotation relative to said member in which said recess CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,159,155.

ALFRED J. HIXON.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, first line 19, claiml, for the words "an one" read formed on one; line 59,before "on" insert formed; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record column,

of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 1 th day of July, A. D. 1959.

(Seal) Henry Van Arsdale Acting Conmissioner of Patents.

'a. cable or the like, said members being formed with cooperating cylindrical bearing surfaces for mounting one member on the other for relative rotation, a cylindrical recess in one of said members surrounded by said bearing surfaces but formed eccentrically therewith, the cylindrical walls of which recess form a bearing for said gripper whereby the latter is mounted for rotation relative to said member in which said recess CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,159,155.

ALFRED J. HIXON.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, first line 19, claiml, for the words "an one" read formed on one; line 59,before "on" insert formed; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record column,

of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 1 th day of July, A. D. 1959.

(Seal) Henry Van Arsdale Acting Conmissioner of Patents. 

